Only one NFL team can claim more diehard fans than Dallas Cowboys

Only one NFL team can claim more diehard fans than Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys fans were deemed the No. 2 most diehard NFL fans in the country, according to a new study.
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Football is practically a religion in Texas, so it's no surprise that a new study by SmartAsset finds that Dallas Cowboys fans are some of the most diehard in the nation. Fans of America's Team rank No. 2. Only Chicago Bears fans can claim more devotion.

Houston Texans fans also make a strong showing. They come in at No. 9, trailing those from division rival Indianapolis Colts, who come in at a tie for No. 6.

The Cowboys lead a strong showing by the NFC East, with all four teams placing in the top six, including the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 3, New York Giants at No. 4, and Washington Redskins tied with the Colts at No. 6.

SmartAsset determined a fan base's loyalty by a number of a factors, including concession prices, ticket prices, attendance numbers, and win percentage of the team over the five-year period between 2011 and 2015. In other words, if fans still show up to games despite high prices and low performance by their team, they rank higher on the diehard list.

In this regard, the Cowboys' string of three straight 8-8 seasons between 2011 and 2013, and their dismal 4-12 record in 2015, combined with the fans' willingness to still pack AT&T Stadium, made them a natural to almost top the list. The only reason the Bears topped the Cowboys is because their fans have endured even less success the past five years.

So the good news is that if you're a Cowboys fan, you can consider yourself one of the best in the nation. The bad news is that, apart from the great start to this season, you just haven't had much to cheer for recently.